HUD guidance on smoke-free Public Housing policies

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued guidance regarding smoke-free policies in public housing.  Public housing authorities (PHAs) must implement smoke-free policies within 18 months of issuance of the guidance.  Policies must ban the use of prohibited tobacco products in all public housing living units, interior common areas, and outdoor areas within 25 feet of public housing and administrative office buildings.  Prohibited tobacco products are items that involve ignition and burning of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and water pipes.  PHAs have flexibility regarding e-cigarettes, limiting smoking to designated areas, requiring a smoke-free perimeter greater than 25 feet, and requiring an entire campus to be smoke-free.

PHA’s must obtain board approval for their smoke-free policies.  PHA must also determine whether adoption of their smoke-free policy is a significant amendment to their PHA plan which requires public meetings.

PHAs must also amend leases.  Residents must sign amended leases as a condition of continuing occupancy.  The lease amendment must incorporate the requirement that residents, members of the resident’s household, resident’s guests and anyone else under the resident’s control cannot smoke in restricted areas or in other outdoor areas that the PHA designates as smoke-free.  PHAs must give residents 60 days notice of the lease amendment and a reasonable amount of time for the resident to accept the amendment.

PHAs are encouraged to adopt graduated enforcement of their smoke-free policy, with termination of tenancy and eviction as a last resort.

PHAs must provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities who smoke.  For example, a PHA could move a disabled smoking tenant to a unit near a door to give the tenant easier access to a smoking area.  However, HUD policy is addiction to nicotine is not a disability.  (PIH Notice 2017-03, February 15, 2017.)

VAWA Guidance for HUD Multifamily owners and management agents

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released guidance regarding implementation of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) for HUD Multifamily owners and management agents.  The guidance is very similar to the HUD’s guidance for the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, summarized here.

In addition, this guidance specifies that VAWA protections apply to all owners and managers in the following HUD Multifamily programs: Project Based Section 8, Section 202, Section 811, Section 236 and Section 221(d)(3) and (d)(5).

In addition to the requirements in the the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs the guidance states that VAWA protections apply to all applicants and tenants in these programs, which means that all applicants and tenants must receive notice of their rights under VAWA.  The guidance also allows owners and managers in Multifamily programs to establish a waiting list preference for victims of dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in addition to domestic violence.  (HUD Notice H 2017-05, June 30, 2017.)

IHSS time for Medical Accompaniment

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The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions regarding IHSS time for Medical Accompaniment.  Accompaniment to health care appointments and alternative resource sites is an allowable IHSS service.  CDSS states its policy is Medical Accompaniment can only be authorized when the recipient needs assistance with another IHSS authorized task during transportation or at the medical appointment or alternative resource site.  CDSS policy is Medical Accompaniment is not authorized only to fill the recipient’s need for transportation. Wait time is available for appointments when the provider provides authorized Medical Accompaniment and the provider is not performing work duties but is unable to use the time for their own purposes.

CDSS policy is that Medical Accompaniment is generally unavailable for minor recipients because it is a parental responsibility to accompany children to medical appointments.  Medical Accompaniment for a minor can be authorized only if the minor has an assessed extraordinary need, the appointment is for specialty care, and the minor has a need for another IHSS authorized task during transportation or at the medical appointment.  Although Medical Accompaniment is not available for routine medical appointments, if the minor recipient needs other authorized services based on assessed extraordinary need, the provider may be paid for assistance with another IHSS authorized task during transportation or at the medical appointment.  Wait time is also generally unavailable for minor recipients, with limited exceptions such as a medical professional taking physical charge of the minor recipient for a set period of time and there is enough time for the parent provider to conduct their own personal business.

Medical Accompaniment is available for appointments only when the county verifies that the recipient is not receiving Medi-Cal non-emergency medical transportation for that appointment.  When a recipient receives non-emergency medical transportation for an appointment, but the recipient needs assistance with another IHSS authorized task during transportation or at the medical appointment, Medical Accompaniment can be authorized, but only for the amount of time for travel to and from the recipient’s home to the appointment.  This is because the time for the other IHSS authorized tasks should already have been accounted for in the total authorization for those service categories.  (ACL 17-42, June 23, 2017.)

Updates to Medi-Cal Aged and Disabled, Medicare Savings Program Thresholds

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DHCS has updated the thresholds for the the Medi-Cal Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level program.  As of April 1, 2017, the monthly income limit for an individual is $1235 ($1005 + $230 disregard); the monthly income limit for a couple is $1664 ($1354 + $310 disregard).

DHCS ACWDL 17-19 (June 23, 2017)

Effective January 1, 2017, allocations, property limits, and premium amounts have been updated:

  • The SSI Standard Allocation is $368.
  • The SSI Parental Allocation is $735 for an individual (if one ineligible parent lives with a child), or $1103 for a couple (if both ineligible parents live with a child).
  • The Medicare Part A premium is $413 for those not receiving free Part A.  A beneficiary with 30-39 quarters has a reduced premium of $227.
  • The Medicare Part B premium is $109 on average for those held harmless, while it is $134 for those who are new to Medicare or not subject to hold harmless status.  The Part B deductible is $183.
  • The property limits for Medicare Savings Programs are $7390 for an individual and $11,090 for a couple.

DHCS ACWDL 17-20 (June 30, 2017).

Updates to the Online Single-Streamlined Application

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The online application for Medi-Cal and other health insurance programs has been redesigned to group questions in a more logical fashion, using prior responses to display future questions on an as-needed basis for program eligibility determinations.

Additionally, the application has changed to conform with newer statutory and regulatory requirements.  Applicants are to be treated in a manner consistent with their gender identity.  They will be able to designate a choice without need for verification from the county.  Individuals can also be deemed pregnant regardless of gender identity.  Additionally, DHCS must collect voluntary information about sexual orientation and gender identity.  The application also removes requirements to collect Social Security numbers from non-applicants.

The updated online application adds questions about Indian Health Service access, military service, and personal injury lawsuits.  It also adds Medi-Cal notice information about non-discrimination, 10-day reporting requirements, and estate recovery to the signature page.

DHCS MEDIL I 17-08 (June 29, 2017).

Medi-Cal Non-Emergency Medical and Non-Medical Transportation

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DHCS issued an All Plan Letter to clarify what transportation services plans must provide in non-emergency situations.

Subject to prior authorization, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a covered benefit when a member needs to obtain medically necessary services and when it is prescribed in writing by a provider.  Plans are required to authorize at minimum the lowest cost type of NEMT that is adequate for the member’s medical needs with no limits as long as the medical services are medically necessary and authorized.

NEMT is required when the member cannot take ordinary public or private means due to medical and physical condition and when transportation is required for obtaining medically necessary services.  Plans must ensure door-to-door assistance for members receiving NEMT services, and plans must provide transportation for a parent or guardian is the member is minor.  The letter discusses when plans must provide NEMT ambulance services, litter van services, wheelchair van services, and NEMT by air.  NEMT requests require a Physician Certification Statement that includes functional limitations justification, dates of service and mode of transportation needed, and a certification statement.

Effective July 1, 2017, non-medical transportation (NMT) expands from EPSDT to a managed care benefit for all members to obtain medically necessary services covered by the managed care plan.  This expands to cover NMT for all Medi-Cal services, including carved out services, starting October 1, 2017.  NMT requested must be the least costly method of transportation that meets the member’s needs.  NMT services must include round trip transportation for a member to obtain covered services, as well as mileage reimbursement when the member arranges for a private vehicle to get to an appointment.  The round trip is available for covered services, picking up prescriptions, and picking up medical equipment and supplies.  The provided NMT must be in a form and manner that is accessible for the member.

NMT services must be authorized prior to use.  Coverage includes the transportation costs for the member and one attendant, subject to authorization.  The member must attest to the plan that other transportation resources have been reasonably exhausted.

Plans are still required to meet timely access standards, either contractually or through Knox-Keene licensing.  The member’s need for NEMT or NMT services do not relieve the MCPs from complying with these obligations.

DHCS APL 17-010 (June 29, 2017)